Excavator stolen, operator missing
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 18 2013 :
One ex-cavator (JCB) has been stolen on the pretext of hiring it for repairing a culvert and its operator has been missing till date.
The missing driver has been identified as Maisnam Debraj (22) s/o late M Utor of Khurai Sajor Leikai, Lairou Pukhri Mapal and the excavator belongs to one Chanam Anil of Singjamei Chanam Pukhri Mapal.
According to the owner of the excavator, two persons came to hire the excavator in the afternoon of October 13 .
The duo came again next morning riding a motorcycle.
Then Debraj and another excavator operator Boboi were sent to the work site together with the two unidentified men.
After reaching the purported work site at Kajipat Loumanbi within Thongju AC, Debraj and Boboi came back and took the excavator to the work site.
But Boboi stayed back at Kakwa after re-fuelling the excavator there.
When Boboi called Debraj through mobile phone at around of 1 pm of October 14, he did not receive any response although the phone was ringing.
Then Debraj's phone was found in switch off mode when Boboi called him again in the evening.
Immediately, Boboi went to the work site but he found no one there.
On being enquired to some people of the locality, he was told that neither any worker came nor any excavator brought there.
Taking serious note of the disappearance of Maisnam Debraj, protest demonstration was staged today at Khurai Sajor Leikai which was followed by a public meeting.
Later, a joint action committee christened JAC Against the Missing of Mais-nam Debraj was constituted.
The JAC appealed to all concerned to release Debraj safely on humanitarian ground if any group was holding him hostage.
The meeting decided to take out a protest rally tomorrow and also submit written complaints to the Chief Minister, the Home Minister and other relevant authorities.